Help in Purchasing Decision

I have been on the fence with my purchase decision between a 4Runner and Tacoma. I like different things about each and has been a hard decision with the limited test drives I have done. But Saturday night I finally came to my decision of a Tacoma DCLB OR Premium.

There are a few things I would like to share and get some input and some questions that I am not clear on and lastly ask for input between an AT or MT.

During my test drive of several different Tacomas I have found that trying to get the truck into 4-Lo has not been easy nor immediate. When I first began test driving all I would get was a constant beeping and different salesman would not know what was going on. I discovered two things- (1) it has to be in neutral (2) I had to back up or move forward to get it to lineup so 4-Lo would engage. Even while doing this it took what I feel too long of a period of time for 4-Lo to actually engage. I am imagining being out on a trail or in snow stuck and not getting immediate engagement and fighting to get into 4-Lo. Thoughts/Input please?

MTS and Crawl Control do not work together simultaneously, it is one or the other. This was new to the salesman... he had no idea. (I know they are not the most knowledgeable on all of the specifics of each vehicle, but it surprises me that they are around their products 5-6 days a week for long extended hours... aren't they curious and don't they feel a bit ignorant not knowing their products?). I discovered MTS and Crawl Control do not work together on the 4Runner either, which really surprised me since there are these two big dials taking up so much space in the headliner. Now I have to assume it is b/c of an older design compared to the updated Tacoma.

A Big One Here: ATrac is only available on the manual transmission model. Another surprise to me. (I just found and read through the thread here on the forum "A-Trac in 4lo on all 2016 Models Non Trd Offroad" in learning more about the different traction controls. I am still digesting this information with all the different traction controls. My previous vehicles have been manual- CJ7 with manual locking hubs, an '89 Isuzu Trooper and '94 Dodge Dakota Manual 4WD gear box. Reading through the thread listed above I am not familiar with all the acronyms so it takes me a while to relate the term with the function (please be patient with me ). I will have to read through it again several times to fully understand all the different functions.

Why is ATrac only available on MT? Is ATrac not that important? Why is gas mileage lower on the MT model? I always thought MT in comparative models would yield better fuel economy. Any MT owners out there that would share their experience of owning the MT? Would you buy another? Is ATrac important enough to purchase the MT over the AT?

 

Welcome! I think you are getting confused on a number of things. Do a google search on TRAC, ATRAC, VSC.

Please remember, going to 4LO only gives you more torque due to the higher reduction. Getting out of a stuck snow does not need more torque, it needs traction and 4LO won't give you that. There are several posts here about the differences of the AT versus the MT and Off Road versus the Sport.

The reason a manual (nowadays) won't give you better mpg is the automatics are better at shift points than humans. Back in the day when manuals had 5 speeds and autos had four speeds was when a manual gave you better mpg. I have a manual. I like a manual. I could care less about one mpg but that's me.

Good luck, search around and test drive, test drive, test drive to find the one you like.

 

Thanks for your reply. Not to sound contentious, I'm not but I don't think I am confused on the different traction control features. As I mentioned in my post I have had several 4WD vehicles for a number of years, and used them enough... but 4-Lo on the Toyota is the only way to engage MTS or Crawl Control and ATrac, hence my example of being in 4-Lo rather than 4-Hi which would then possibly render a reply that you use the traction control features in 4-Lo...

 

FYI, manual transmission is not available on a DCLB.

 

I just found this out :-( Could Toyota find one more way to muck something up?! It very well could be my ignorance, these guys are the high-priced engineers, but every time I think I have found what I want the breaks get put on...

 

I don't think it was the engineers' decision... I certainly would have bought one, and then there's you and probably a bunch of others here on TW, but I guess Toyota's number crunchers decided that wasn't enough people to justify producing it.

 

No push start in the manual. I kind of want a push start.

 

Law of diminishing returns. Long bed is a tiny fraction of total Tacoma sales. Manual transmissions is a tiny fraction of Tacoma sales. Long bed + manual transmission would be a fraction of a fraction of Tacoma sales. Like maybe six trucks haha. Our local dealership sold around 500 Tacomas last year. Out of those 500, 7 were manual...

 

I agree with your point of diminishing returns. I do think that most people will opt for automatic. But why do they then put ATrac on MT and not AT models?

 

I have a manual and I am glad I don’t have the push start. I can only imagine how pissed off someone would b if the push button had a simple electrical issue. I’m sure the key ignition could fail, but less likely.

I suggest u really take your time (OP), since it seems u r willing to research before making a decision. It’s an expensive buy with either model u choose so make it count. I would make a checklist on paper of all the things u must have and all the things u want, but could live without and start there. U will make the right decision but just don’t rush it. U will b happy u did your research. Remember, these trucks r a dime a dozen in most configs if u really want one that bad u will locate your dream vehicle. Best of luck bro!

 

I had a 2017 SR5 auto, now have a 2017 TRD offroad 4x4 manual, so glad i have the manual now, i like having the control of gears, i hated how the auto shifted into gears, felt like there was like lack of power. I havent tried ATRAC, but will update you as soon as i do.

They also dont make DCLB OR MT or in premium I believe

 

The Manual still has a key for proper use of the Clutch Cancel Switch, it allows you to ride the starter out while in gear to get you out of a hairy situation, I like the simplicity of having a key anyway.

 

I didn't design the truck but I'm sure it has to do with the Crawl Control, which the MT does not have. Here, I googled this https://95octane.com/2016/04/28/2016-toyota-tacoma-trd-off-road-manual/ for you.

 

ATRAC has been on Toyota's since early 2000's. Different variations were implemented during the years, but it just basically boils down to an LSD system. MTS is a more advanced (or better word for it is automated) version. Don't get hung up on it. You will use it maybe once every other year. If that. Just having a rear locker is enough for me. In fact, if I could get a locker in an SR without all the ATRAC/MTS doodads, I would do it. (Yes, I know ARB is available. And truth be told, if I could go back, I would do just that).

 

I agree 100%. Part of my "Have to have" is a 6' bed so that eliminates the MT option . I also agree with not wanting a push start option... it makes absolutely no sense to me. But my option is to ditch the 6' bed and pull a trailer which also doesn't make sense for me right now. So that leaves me back where I started.... I tried

 

You want a unicorn.

 

I like Unicorns

 

MTS/CC is an advanced version of ATRAC, they didn't leave it out of the slushbox OR trucks, just made it better. It's my assumption that the manuals are still on ATRAC is because in the videos I've seen of CC mode the trucks will briefly come to a full stop at times as a part of whatever the traction control is doing. That's a no go with a manual unless you hand over control of the clutch to the electronics as well. The difference in fuel economy between the manual and auto likely has far more to do with the difference in gearing then increased efficiency of the trans itself. The manual runs a 4.30 compared to the 3.91 in the automatics.

 

Not sure what u haul, but bed extenders r an option if u thought it might work out. The have the flip down style and others I’m sure, but if u have a kayak or something like that u can get something for that as well. But, u r doing the right thing by not being impulsive and just buying to get a sweet truck Let us know what u end up doing!

 

Part of my need is my photography equipment which one of my stands is 6' and the other is a bed platform for my x-country trips. The only way around this is if I added the Habitat AT topper. But this then means I would have to open it up every time I stop to sleep while making my trip and being stealthy is also part of my criteria.